Donald Trump became the center of attention at UFC 314, as he entered Miami`s Kaseya Center to a massive standing ovation.
Accompanied by a group of influential political figures and well-known supporters, the former US President was greeted at the Saturday night event by a packed arena filled with red MAGA hats and enthusiastic chants of “USA!”
With Tesla CEO Elon Musk on one side and podcast host Joe Rogan on the other, Trump raised his fist to the tune of Taking Care of Business, effectively turning UFC 314 into a mix of a MAGA rally and a celebrity event.
Dressed in a dark suit and a striking yellow tie, the prominent Republican engaged with the crowd, waving, shaking hands, and briefly dancing to YMCA as his image was displayed on the arena screens.
Trump made the UFC event a family affair, bringing along his granddaughter Kai, a golfer, and two other grandchildren.
However, it was anything but a relaxed evening.
He was in the company of a notable group of MAGA figures: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Senator Ted Cruz, and senior communications aides Steven Cheung and Taylor Budowich.
UFC President Dana White, a long-time supporter of Trump, accompanied him into the arena, where Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal were also present.
Trump was then seen warmly greeting Rogan and spending time with Musk, whose son X Æ A-12 was on his shoulders wearing ear protectors.
“You know who’s winning tonight? Dana White is winning tonight, he’s the only winner,” Trump mentioned to reporters on Air Force One before landing.
This UFC appearance marked Trump`s first since returning to office in January, revisiting the octagon just months after attending UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.
That previous time, he received a championship belt from Jon Jones, and on Saturday, the audience displayed similar enthusiasm.
Adding to the event`s significance, it also served as a birthday celebration for Tulsi Gabbard.
Despite ongoing discussions about his tariffs and recent stock market volatility, Trump put aside these concerns to support his friend Dana White.
Earlier that day, the President played golf at his West Palm Beach club before traveling to Miami, marking his tenth visit to South Florida since assuming office.
While the event`s highlight was the featherweight championship fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, Trump was the main focus — although one fight was certainly a disappointment for him.
Michael Chandler, a Trump supporter, suffered a knockout defeat against Paddy Pimblett.
Despite the loss, Chandler remained supportive of Trump.
“You’re talking about a couple months into a presidency,” he commented.
“All I know is, the future looks promising, and we need to allow things to unfold.”
Saturday’s event was the latest in a series of major sports appearances for Trump.
Recently, he has been seen at the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, NCAA wrestling championships, and LIV Golf tournaments.
